Holiday teacher drowns in Dominican Republic after night out
A BRITISH holidaymaker has drowned while swimming off a popular tourist beach in the Dominican Republic.
Widow Sian Marshall-Plewes, 36, is thought to have died at about 4am on Saturday while she was swimming with a local man.
The English teacher, from Lincoln, reportedly became separated from him after being hit by a strong wave. The man, 20-year-old Jose Manuel Cordero, got back to shore at Sosua Beach.
Mrs Marshall-Plewes’s body was found further along the beach by Civil Defence volunteers.
Earlier that evening, the pair had been spotted drinking and dancing at a nightspot in the nearby town of Cabarete.
According to witnesses Mrs Marshall-Plewes was “animated and inebriated”.
One local, Jeffry Leon Ulloa, said: “I saw them both in Cabarete enjoying themselves and having a good time together at about 12:30am.
“It was a mistake going to the beach. In that state it could happen to anyone.”
Police are investigating the incident, which sources have called a “terrible tragedy”.
Mrs Marshall-Plewes had been staying at an apartment for one week and was due to fly back to the UK on Sunday.
Her death will be a particularly hard blow for her family as her late husband, Mark Marshall-Plewes, died unexpectedly at their home in 2006, aged just 30.
Mrs Marshall-Plewes was an English teacher at the Priory City of Lincoln Academy. Yesterday former pupils paid tribute to her.
Among those was Danielle Jenkinson, 19, who said: “She was more of a friend and a mother figure than a teacher.
“As pupils we could go to her about anything and everything. She was the most amazing person and a brilliant teacher.
“She had a fish bowl in her classroom and we used to feed the fish every time we started class. I will always remember her and everyone will miss her.”
Another former pupil, Craig Clark, wrote on a Facebook tribute page: “Loved English classes with her. They were awesome.”
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We can confirm the death of a British national, Sian Louise Marshall-Plewes in the Dominican Republic on August 3. We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time.”